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Bent Metal Transfer 2018-2019 Snowboard Bindings Review

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It’s hard to believe that Bent Metal was only resurrected a couple of years ago. In the short time since its Second Coming, the brand has cemented itself as one of the best options for all your foot-to-board-interfacing needs.

The name still doesn’t make much sense – there’s precious little metal present, bent or otherwise – but each model in the range has proven itself to be a fine choice for a particular style of riding. Perhaps best of all are the Bent Metal Transfer snowboard bindings, which are the most all-mountain friendly.

“Responsive at speed without being too rigid, the feel you get from the Transfer’s Drive Plate is ideal for doing a bit of everything”

The footbed on the Bent Metal Transfer bindings is more than a pretty picture (which, once again, has been painted by Forest Bailey and co-ordinates with his Gnu Space Case snowboard).

Underneath that top layer is a combination of UHMW (just about the toughest thermoplastic polymer you can get) and magnesium fibres, layered atop one another. It’s not a million miles away from how a snowboard is put together; indeed, BMBW’s parent company Mervin makes these ‘Drive Plates’ at its own factory alongside Lib Tech, Gnu and Roxy boards.

The magnesium is a happy medium between the calcium used in the Logic, and the carbon fibre found in the Solution. Responsive at speed without being too rigid, the feel you get from the Transfer’s Drive Plate is ideal for doing a bit of everything. Likewise with the ankle strap, a supportive yet lightweight design with minimal foam padding.

“If you like a bit of forward lean, then you won’t find an easier, more effective system than Bent Metal’s ‘Cube’”

If you like a bit of forward lean, then you won’t find an easier, more effective system for adjusting it than Bent Metal’s ‘Cube’. With a quick twist, you can instantly change to one of four pre-set angles, spanning between 10 and 22 degrees. It’s tool-free, and you don’t even need to take your gloves off.

A well as Forest’s take, there are alternative colourways from Sean Genovese and Jamie Lynn available too. It’s no coincidence that riders with such a wide range of styles have put their mark on the Bent Metal Transfer bindings – there aren’t many folk out there that won’t get on with these.

Tester’s Verdict

“Some bindings just feel anonymous as soon as you strap in, which is always a good sign. For whatever reason, the Bent Metal Transfer bindings have never been like that for me. There’s something about them that makes their presence known as soon as I set foot in them. This isn’t Burton, K2 or anyone else; this is Bent Metal.

Bad news, you’d think, but actually once you actually get going, it all melts away. I won’t for a second claim that I can feel the Drive Plate doing miraculous things that no other footbed can, but they do their job well – and that’s all you should be looking for.

“No single feature of the Transfer feels like a game-changer, but it all adds up to more than the sum of its parts”

The same goes for the highback and straps. No single feature of the Transfer feels like a game-changer, but it all adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Once you’ve been riding these for a few turns, they feel as in tune with the rest of your setup as you can ask for.

Unless you’re really looking for something with insane stiffness or tons of flex, then these are fantastic (and if that is what you want, I’ll point you in the direction of the Solution or Logic.

While not crazy expensive, they’re not cheap either – but there’s nothing about the build quality of the latest edition that suggests anything less than years of happy abuse. That’s not something you can say about several more ‘affordable’ models.”

Trade Secrets

“BMBW’s perfect all terrain combination of an engineered polymer highback and a responsive magnesium fibre Drive Plate gives you precise freestyle/freeride performance and control in every riding situation.

Freestyle folk hero Forest Bailey and godfather of power freestyle Jamie Lynn are back artistically collaborating with Bent Metal Binding Works on two all new Transfer colorways.

These are the go to BMBW team and fan favourites with all-mountain ruling performance and amazing artist collabs.”

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